In the lead up to the Global Climate Action Summit, taking place in San Francisco from September 12-14, mayors globally are being invited to step up their climate action.

Cities around the world are already taking ambitious action to make the Paris Agreement a reality. By 2030, we know that nearly every home built, every power plant brought online will need to be powered by clean energy. The Global Climate Action Summit is a chance to demonstrate to the world that cities, along with businesses, investors, state and regional governments are at the forefront of working towards a climate safe, healthy, prosperous world for all.

City actions are being collected under the One Planet Charter, which is designed to provide cities with a swift, yet achievable road map for bold and inclusive climate action.

Contact GCAS@c40.org to register your interest in joining any of the actions detailed below.

Making a Plan to Meet Paris Agreement Goals

To join Deadline 2020, mayors are asked to sign a letter of commitment. To learn more, contact GCAS@c40.org or visit the resource centre.

Developing an inclusive climate action plan by the end of 2020 that aligns with the highest goal of the Paris Agreement: to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

City action towards sustainable communities

to participate in any of the initiatives described below, cities are asked to detail the actions they will take to meet the goals of that initiative. For more information, contact GCAS@c40.org.

Joining the Green & Healthy Streets (“Fossil Fuel Free Streets”) Declaration, where cities pledge to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025, make a major area of their city zero emission by 2030, and encourage a shift to walking, cycling, and public transport. Cities taking action to create fossil-fuel free streets are paving the way for a future in which the majority of citizens move around their cities by walking, cycling, and shared transport, resulting in less congestion, less pollution, quieter roads, and cleaner air. Please see C40’s Green & Healthy Streets webpage for more information.

Joining the “Net Zero Carbon Buildings” Declaration, by enacting regulations and/or planning policies to ensure new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030, with all buildings to follow by 2050. Cities can additionally commit to exclusively owning, occupying and developing assets that are net zero carbon in operation by 2030. All signatories are also encouraged to report on emissions beyond carbon (e.g., refrigerants). Building energy use accounts for over half of total city emissions on average, according to C40’s Deadline 2020 report. Decarbonizing buildings in cities is therefore one of the most fundamental things cities can do to help avoid dangerous climate change.

Joining the “Advancing Towards Zero Waste” Declarationby pledging to reduce the amount of waste generated by at least 15% per capita by 2030. Cities also pledge to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste disposed to landfill or incineration by at least 50% and increase the diversion rate away from landfill and incineration to at least 70% by 2030.

Contact GCAS@c40.org to register your interest in participating in any of these actions.

Other actions cities can take ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit include:

Pledging to deliver inclusive climate action that benefits all citizens equitably by increasing action on community-led development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, social and economic benefits, especially in low-income and vulnerable communities.

Committing to 100% renewable electricity (city-wide) by 2035, and 100% renewable energy (including electricity, heating and cooling, and transport) by 2050. Shifting towards 100% clean renewable energy is an essential building block in the transition to net zero emissions by 2050, and to create healthier and more equitable communities. For more information see the Go Renewable global campaign or the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 initiative (for US cities)

Signing the Edmonton Declaration, a bold call-to-action to the scientific, technology and innovation community to work collaboratively with cities and city organisations to deliver the research, data and technology cities need to meet their bold commitments to act. City signatories also call upon national and subnational governments to recognize the need for urgent action, to coordinate and integrate efforts, and to establish formal, science-based policy and decision-making processes. Learn more about the Edmonton Declaration at the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy website. Please contact GCoM at info@globalcovenantofmayors.org for more information.

Taking the Green Bond Pledge, which encourages cities to issue, when possible, bonds for infrastructure as green bonds, and to establish a green bonds strategy aimed at financing infrastructure and capital projects that meet the challenges of climate change while making cities competitive, prosperous and economically productive. Green bonds are an instrumental mechanism to finance low carbon infrastructure in cities. Please see more info on the Green Bonds Pledge website.

Becoming a part of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, an informal alliance of nations, states, cities and organisations committed to moving the world from burning coal to cleaner power sources. Through the Alliance, cities can commit to powering city operations without coal and to supporting clean power through their policies and investments. Coal-fired power plants produce almost 40% of global electricity, and coal-fired power generation emits twice as much CO2 as gas per unit of electricity, making carbon pollution from coal a leading contributor to climate change. It is a statement that is particularly powerful for cities where their grid electricity mix relies heavily on coal. Please see more information on the UK government website. Please contact Mission 2020 at info@mission2020.globalto register interest.

How can my city engage with the Global Climate Action Summit? Here’s how.